Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the
relative teaching time and student effort required to
successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may
include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also
the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and
complete all assessment requirements, including any
non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

Prepare income tax returns for individuals ( FNSACC502A ).

Course Description

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to assess taxation liabilities, optimise tax positions, establish processes and plans, evaluate tax policies and review tax compliance. This unit has application to a variety of financial services sectors and is applicable to individuals working within enterprises and job roles subject to licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements. The Tax Practitioner’s Board has set specific educational and experience requirements for registration of tax agents that must be met.

National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

FNSACC603A Implement tax plans and evaluate tax compliance

Element:

2. Optimise Tax Positions

Performance Criteria:

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1. Implications of obligation on operations and structures are assessed to develop a range of treatments and responses<o:p></o:p>

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2. Financial management strategies are developed to ensure the alignment of cash flow with incidence and schedules of tax payments<o:p></o:p>

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3. Trends in tax liabilities are analysed and monitored to develop a history of obligations and compliance<o:p></o:p>

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Element:

1. Assess tax liabilities

Performance Criteria:

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1. Organisational and operational tax liabilities are identified by analysis of external and internal taxable transactions<o:p></o:p>

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2. History and trends in obligations arising from organisational transactions are quantified using standard accounting techniques<o:p></o:p>

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3. Data from transactions are analysed to resolve ambiguities and determine the nature of taxation options, etc.<o:p></o:p>

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4. Effects of taxes are analysed and scheduled by assessing methods of determination, tax bases and timing of incidence<o:p></o:p>

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Element:

3. Establish Processes and Plans

Performance Criteria:

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1. Management plans and record keeping systems are developed to implement financial management strategies and ensure the maintenance of an audit trail <o:p></o:p>

3. Taxation liabilities are derived from income and expenditure estimates using standard accounting techniques<o:p></o:p>

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4. Budgets are prepared in accordance with estimates and reviewed to ensure ongoing relevance of liability estimates<o:p></o:p>

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Element:

4. Evaluate Tax Policies

Performance Criteria:

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1. Variances between liabilities and taxation plans are analysed to identify errors in tax strategies<o:p></o:p>

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2. Performance of tax liabilities in similar or related organisations and operations are monitored and evaluated to measure tax effectiveness and prepare benchmarks and standards<o:p></o:p>

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3. Data is reviewed for accuracy, completeness and reliability of assumptions in liability projections<o:p></o:p>

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Element:

5. Review Tax Compliance

Performance Criteria:

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1. The achievement of performance indicators is assessed and reviewed against key result areas<o:p></o:p>

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2. Taxation preparation processes are monitored and reviewed in line with professional taxation and accounting standards requirements<o:p></o:p>

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3. Failures in compliance are analysed to diagnose shortcomings and to remedy processes in line with taxation authorities’ requirements<o:p></o:p>

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Learning Outcomes

Details of Learning Activities

A range of learning activities are planned for this unit, including self paced and collaborative classroom based activities. The unit covers the topics of Tax Practitioners, Partnerships, and Trusts and this is followed by the first test, which will be assessed on a competent or a not yet competent basis. Then the topic Primary Producers is covered then assessed via a assignment. The topics of companies is covered after this with lots of hands on exercises, followed by the second test, also on a competent or a not yet competent basis. Superfunds is covered next, then finally Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) followed by the third and final test.

We will instruct the students in the processes, policies and procedures adopted by the Australian Taxation office ( ATO ), in their administration of the Tax Act, with frequent reference to the rulings and laws contained in the ATO website.

In this clustered co-delivered, holistic course comprising two units and using textbooks and other materials, students will be progressively introduced to consider implementing taxation planning and manually calculating taxable income and calculating tax payable. With respect to full time students, in class work will account for 80 of the total nominal hours of 140 for the two co-delivered courses and in-class work will include a range of self paced and collaborative learning activities such as class discussion, completion and review of set exercises, and tests and an assignment in which parts involve a simulated/real workplace environment.<o:p></o:p>

The hours of self-directed learning by full-time students (60 of the total nominal hours) will be taken up with reading, research, set work on exercises and the completion of an assignment outside scheduled class time. Please note that the format of the full-time classes will in total, five hours per week over 16 weeks.<o:p></o:p>

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With respect to the part-time(flexed) students, in-class work will account for 20 of the total nominal hours of 140 for the two co-delivered courses and in-class work will include a range of self-paced and collaborative learning activities such as class discussion, completion and review of set exercises, and tests and an assignment in which parts involve a simulated/real workplace environment.<o:p></o:p>

The hours of self-directed learning by part-time students (120 of the 140 total nominal hours) will be taken up with reading, research, set work on exercises and the completion of an assignment outside scheduled class time. The schedule for part-time students will comprise 9 by 2-hourly classes each fortnight (weeks 1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15,and 16) with two , 1-hourly collaborate sessions, scheduled for weeks 10 and 12. With respect to the online collaborate sessions, part-time students must ensure that they have Java Script installed on their computer (can be installed from <font color="#0000ff">http://java.com/en/download/index.jsp</font> ) and a headset with microphone.<o:p></o:p>

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It is expected that both full-time and part-time participate and contribute in all scheduled learning activities.<o:p></o:p>

: Australian Income Tax Question Book by Alan and Garry Kirby 2014 ed.

References

Australian Income Tax Answer Book by Alan Kirby and Garry Kirby 2014 Edition

Other Resources

Relevant learning resources will be placed on the Blackboard progressively throughout the semester. Students will need to access this site on a weekly basis to obtain exercises set for practice and they will also be given weekly handouts as appropriate.

Overview of Assessment

Assessment may incorporate a variety of methods including technical requirements documentation, homework, assignments, group and/or individual projects, in class exercises, written and practical tests, problem solving exercises, presentations, direct observation of actual and simulated work practice, presentation of a portfolio of evidence which may comprise documents, and/or photographs and/or video and audio files, review of products produced through work-based or course activities.

Students are advised that they are likely to be asked to personally demonstrate their assessment work to their teacher to ensure that the relevant competency standards are being met. Students will be provided with feedback throughout the course to check their progress.

Assessment Tasks

Overview of Assessment

Students must demonstrate an understanding of all elements of competency to be deemed competent.

A range of assessment methods are used to assess practical skills and knowledge, for example:
• direct questioning combined with review of portfolios of evidence and third party workplace reports of on-the-job performance by the candidate
• review of authenticated documents from the workplace or training environment
• demonstration of techniques

Critical aspects of assessment

Evidence of the following is essential:

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of Australian taxation laws such that it can be applied to taxation affairs

Gather and verify data to calculate taxable income and review for compliance

Apply organisational policies and procedures and accounting principles and practices

Prepare tax returns for business

Assessment Tasks

You are required to complete 4 tasks. You must successfully complete all 4 tasks to be deemed competent in this unit.

Task 1 ( Due week 6 )

For this assessment, you sit a open book test which covers the material presented in weeks 1 to 5 of the semester, namely partnerships and trusts. The test will be of 2 hours duration. The assessment will be based on a competent or not yet competent basis. You must pass this test to pass the semester.

Task 2 ( Due week 9 ).

This task is an assignment which students are requested to undertake in groups of 3, with each student making their own contribution to the overall effort. The assignment stars Dave Rudd a sheep farmer, who owns a large property in outback Australia. Playing the boardgame Squatter creates transactions which, when analysed, enables the students to prepare a tax return for one year,and estimate tax payable after offsets. The students are also required to produce completed accounting records. The assessment will be based on a competent or not yet competent basis. You must pass this assignment to pass the semester

Task 3 ( Due week 11 ).

This task is an open book test which will be based on the material presented in weeks 7 to 11. The assessment will be based on a competent or not yet competent basis.

Task 4 (Due week15)

This task is the final test, also open book, which will be based on the material presented in weeks 12 to 15. The assessment will be based on a competent or not yet competent basis.

Students who are not deemed competent in the tasks 1, 2, 3 and 4 assessments, will be given the opportunity to resit or resubmit the assessment concerned. This will be conducted at a time suitable to both student and teacher. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have checked gradebook for the ontcome of each assessment, and if not competent, that you find out when the resit or resubmission is taking place.

Submission Requirements

Assessment tasks need to be submitted as follows:

Test 1 and Test 2 and final Test 3 ( will be presented and submitted during your normal weekly scheduled classes ).

The Assignment is to be submitted via Blackboard with a cover sheet containing all appropriate details.

You should:

• Ensure that you submit assessments on or before the due date. If your performance in the assessment is affected by unexpected circumstances, you should consider applying for Special Consideration. Information on the process and application forms is available at http://rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=ls0ydfokry9rz website.
• Always retain a copy of your assessment tasks. (hard copy and soft copy)
• When you submit work for assessment at RMIT University you need to use a cover sheet that includes a declaration and statement of authorship. You must complete, sign and submit a cover sheet with all work you submit for assessment, whether individual or group work. On the cover sheet you declare that the work you are presenting for assessment is your own work. An assignment cover sheet for submission of work for assessment is available on blackboard.
• Each page of your assessment should include footer with your name, student number, the title of the assessment, unit code and title and page numbers.

Marking Guide (competency):

Vocational Education and Training (VET) is based on current industry needs and the focus on preparing you for the workplace. Because VET courses are informed by practical application of knowledge and skills, they are based on a system known as ‘competency based training’ (CBT). So when you are assessed in VET it is about whether you are competent to do the job, as well as having a firm grasp on the knowledge and skills required to do that job, as opposed to traditional curriculum based education settings that are often based on knowledge retention.

You need to demonstrate you are competent in each element of the unit of competency you are studying.

You will receive feedback on each assessment task that will inform you whether you are competent or not and how well you are performing. This will be recorded in the gradebook. Once competent in all elements of the unit you receive a competency grading.

Please refer to the Final Grades table below.

Marking Guide (Grading)

After achieving competency we then grade your performance in the unit; this gives you the opportunity to have the level of your performance formally recognized against industry standards and employability skills.

The grading is according to the following criteria:

1. LEVEL OF INDEPENDENCE, INITIATIVE, ENTERPRISE AND PERFORMANCE OF WORK TASK

We are looking for a high level of ability to complete all tasks independently as per the specifications as well as demonstrating a high level of initiative in your approach to undertaking and completing the work assigned.

2. DEMONSTRATED BREADTH OF UNDERPINNING KNOWLEDGE AND A WILLINGNESS TO CONTINUE LEARNING

We are looking for depth of understanding of the key concepts. You should be able to demonstrate a thorough understanding of all applicable principles and concepts in all the assessment tasks.

3. TECHNIQUES & PROCESSES, TECHNOLOGY SKILLS AND PROBLEM SOLVING

We are looking for appropriate use of technology to assist in presenting all tasks clearly and suitable for the intended audience.

4. WORK ORGANISATION, PLANNING AND SELF MANAGEMENT

We expect to see ongoing uploading of information into Pebble Pad that is relevant to the unit, full utilisation of Pebble Pad and Blackboard as per course requirements and timely submission of all required assessment tasks.

5. COMMUNICATION, PEOPLE NETWORKING, LANGUAGE AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS AND TEAMWORK

We expect to see contributions to relevant discussions and scheduled Collaborate sessions.

Further information regarding the application of the grading criteria will be provided by your teacher.

Assessment Matrix

Other Information

Late Submission Procedures
You are required to submit assessment items and/or ensure performance based assessment is completed by the due dates.
If you are prevented from submitting an assessment item on time, by circumstances outside your control, you may apply in advance to your teacher for an extension to the due date of up to seven calendar days.
More Information: http://www.rmit.edu.au/students/assessment/extension
Form to use: http://mams.rmit.edu.au/seca86tti4g4z.pdf
Where an extension of greater than seven days is needed, you must apply for special consideration. Applications for special consideration must be submitted no later than two working days after the assessment task deadline or scheduled examination.
More Information: http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=g43abm17hc9w
Form to use: http://mams.rmit.edu.au/8a5dgcaqvaes1.pdf

Resubmissions (VET Programs):
If you are found to be Not Yet Competent in a Course Assessment Task you will be allowed one resubmission only. Your teacher will provide feedback regarding what you need to do to improve and will set a new deadline for the resubmission. The highest grade you will receive if your resubmission is successful is “CAG”.
If you are still not meeting the assessment requirements you must apply to your Program Manager in writing outlining the steps you will take to demonstrate competence in your course. Your submission will be considered by the Program Team and you will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible.

Adjustments to Assessment
In certain circumstances students may be eligible for an assessment adjustment. For more information about the circumstances under which the assessment arrangements might be granted please access the following website:
More Information: http://rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=7usdbki1fjf31